What do satisfied lawyers have in common? I found that this group of satisfied lawyers

had three things in common:

1. They have a sincere interest or passion for the subject matter on which they work.

2. They enjoy the daily rhythms of their job.

3. Their work appeals to the core of their personality —their work is aligned with

their values and allows them to work with their strongest skills.

Abrams emphasizes a key point: “Students see job satisfaction as a luxury rather than as an ingredient necessary to career success. During and after my programs, students have identified numerous concerns related to job satisfaction. Yet, interestingly, students see their questions as separate from the issue of finding satisfying work. It’s as if they see satisfaction as a luxury rather than as a necessary ingredient to finding success in a legal job.” She asks:

What can law schools do to help students seek satisfaction?

The most important thing we can do for law students is convince them that

considering satisfaction isn’t a luxury but a necessity. Finding a job in which

you have a degree of satisfaction sets you on the road to success. Says Virginia

Vermillion, Assistant Dean for Career Services at the University of Illinois College

of Law, “The closer your first job to your long-term goal, the more likely you are

to be happy. The happier you are, the more likely you are to succeed. There’s a

cumulative effect of success.”

The best way to be on the road toward a legal career that is in sync with your passions, values

and rhythms is to know who you are. Honestly, almost none of us can do that without making a

real commitment of time and energy in the process of self-assessment. In 1L of a decision, you

will find some free, online resources that can help greatly in that assessment.

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You might also check out Deborah Arron’s website to see which of the “7 lawyer types” described in the JurisDoctor Profiles Assessment seems to best describe you and which career options best fit each type.

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What the L are you doing this weekend that’s more important than a personal self-assessment?

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